Outdoor
Is PETG good enough for outdoor use?
By SSS
Published . Updated .
- Nozzle220–250 °C(428–482 °F)
- Bed70–90 °C(158–194 °F)
- Speed50–100 mm/s
- Dry65 °C · 6 h(149 °F)
- Density1.25 g/cm³
Heat resistance: HDT 78 °C (172 °F) (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) · Vicat 84 °C (183 °F) (ISO 306) · Tg 81 °C (178 °F) · source →
Heat resistance: HDT 75 °C (167 °F) (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa) · Vicat 84 °C (183 °F) (ISO 306) · Tg 81 °C (178 °F) · source →
Speed, Drying. Source: Polymaker TDS · Last checked 18 October 2026
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Material | Nozzle | Bed | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polymaker · Polylite PETG | PETG | 220–250 °C428–482 °F | 70–90 °C158–194 °F | Datasheet | |
Nozzle 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) and bed 70–90 °C (158–194 °F) from the Open Filament Database. Drying 65 °C (149 °F) for 6 h on the TDS, checked 18 October 2026. Heat dataset, checked 21 October 2026, lists HDT 78 °C (172 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 75 °C (167 °F) at 1.8 MPa, ISO 75. No UV hours are stored. | ||||||
| 2 | Prusament · PETG | PETG | 240–260 °C464–500 °F | 70–90 °C158–194 °F | Datasheet | |
Open Filament Database nozzle 240–260 °C (464–500 °F), bed 70–90 °C (158–194 °F), print speed up to 200 mm/s. Drying 55 °C (131 °F) for 6 h is the Prusa drying article stored as a material default, checked 18 October 2026. No UV hours are stored. | ||||||
| 3 | Polymaker · Polylite ASA | ASA | 230–260 °C446–500 °F | 75–95 °C167–203 °F | Datasheet | |
TDS checked 21 October 2026 lists a nozzle of 230–260 °C (446–500 °F), a bed of 75–95 °C (167–203 °F), and drying at 70 °C (158 °F) for 7 h. Heat dataset the same day lists HDT 103 °C (217 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 100 °C (212 °F) at 1.8 MPa, ISO 75. No UV hours are stored. | ||||||
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Outdoor use is heat plus sunlight, and these rows only publish the heat. What people use outdoors already puts ASA ahead of PETG for sun and keeps PETG as the cooler print. PLA outdoors is the material the comments here actually worry about. ASA printing is the setup if you step up to that nozzle.
Heat deflection, not a year count
PolyLite PETG lists 220–250 °C (428–482 °F), a bed of 70–90 °C (158–194 °F), and drying at 65 °C (149 °F) for 6 h. Checked for drying 18 October 2026. The heat dataset, checked 21 October 2026, lists 78 °C (172 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 75 °C (167 °F) at 1.8 MPa, ISO 75. Prusament PETG lists 240–260 °C (464–500 °F), a bed of 70–90 °C (158–194 °F), and speed up to 200 mm/s. Its drying cell is 55 °C (131 °F) for 6 h from Prusa's drying article, stored as a material default, checked 18 October 2026. PolyLite ASA lists 230–260 °C (446–500 °F), a bed of 75–95 °C (167–203 °F), and drying at 70 °C (158 °F) for 7 h. HDT is 103 °C (217 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 100 °C (212 °F) at 1.8 MPa, checked 21 October 2026.
None of the three stores a UV exposure time. The order is the question's order. It is not a claim that PETG lasts a few years.
What the community says
a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab says 80f and direct sunlight can warp PLA.
a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab: A comment says PETG will likely be the answer, and that black PLA spiders in a Boston October were fine under a porch.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The heat numbers keep the load, 0.45 MPa and 1.8 MPa, on the same brand.
- The comment that likes PETG for a porch is reported as a comment, with the October-only PLA anecdote beside it.
Cons
- No comments states a year count.
- Two of the outdoor-titled threads supplied no comments, and one supplied a photo link plus a stringing question.
Printer considerations
- A higher heat-deflection temperature is not an outdoor-years claim. The catalog has no UV column, and these sheets are not quoted here as one.
- writes 80f and says direct sunlight can warp PLA. That figure is the comment. It is not a PLA glass-transition number from a sheet on this page.
- PolyLite ASA's bed is 75–95 °C (167–203 °F) and its nozzle starts at 230 °C (446 °F). A PETG profile does not become an ASA profile because the part is going outside.
Sources & notes
Published . Updated .
- Polymaker PolyLite PETG technical data sheet datasheet
- Polymaker PolyLite ASA technical data sheet datasheet
- Prusa Knowledge Base, drying filament manufacturer
- Prusament PETG technical data sheet datasheet
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting reddit
Related questions
- Can PLA be used outdoors?Outdoor
- What is the best filament for outdoor use?Outdoor
- How do I print ASA successfully?ASA
Related data
- Cheapest filament per kg
- Cheapest PLA per kg
- Will my dryer cover this filament?
- Drying dataset
- How long to dry PETG
- PETG drying temperature and time
- ASA drying temperature and time
Questions
Should I use PETG or ASA outside?
These sheets do not award a winner. PolyLite PETG deflects at 78 °C (172 °F) and 75 °C (167 °F) under the two ISO 75 loads. PolyLite ASA deflects at 103 °C (217 °F) and 100 °C (212 °F). Neither row stores UV hours. Outdoor filament is the material order people already argue. PLA outdoors is the polymer the score-11 comment says warps in sun. ASA printing is the hotter nozzle and bed.
The comment says 80f. Is that a spec?
It is the score-11 comment on r/BambuLab. Prusament PETG's published nozzle is 240–260 °C (464–500 °F) and its bed is 70–90 °C (158–194 °F). Those are print settings.